20001125038849A

(-23) On Saturday, November 25, 2000, at approximately 1:00 pm, Luscombe 8A aircraft, N45537, was departing Antlers Municipal Airport in Antlers, OK. For a pleasure flight in the local area with the pilot and one passenger on board. The pilot stated that the start, taxi and runup were normal. The pilot applied full power for takeoff and the engine was producing 2150 RPM which is normal. The aircraft lifted off approx. halfway down the runway. By the time the a/c reached the departure end of the runway, the engine was beginning to gradually lose power. The pilot saw that he would not be able to clear the trees, so he reduced power and landed the aircraft in the treetops. The a/c fell from the trees to the ground nose first. The pilot reported that the mixture, magnetos, fuel selector, and primer were as they should be. He also reported that there were no unusual engine noises, only a gradual loss of power, and that he suspected carburetor ice. An investigation of the engine revealed a hole approx. 3/4 inches in length in the hose that supplies carb heat to the carburetor. The caruretor was not getting the full amount of carb heat that it should have been. (.4)on November 25, 2000, at 1300 central standard time, a Luscombe 8A, single-engine airplane, N45537, struck trees following a loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb at Antlers, Oklahoma. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under 14 code of federal regulations part 91. The commercial pilot and his passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the airplane was "easily started and taxied to runway 35 for takeoff. No unusual noises or taxiing characteristics were noted." The pilot applied full throttle and carburetor heat. The airplane developed full power during the takeoff roll; however, once the airplane was airborne, the engine was not developing full power. The pilot "turned off the carburetor heat." There "seemed to be a gradual reduction of power" regardless of carburetor heat position. The airplane struck trees beyond the departure end of the runway, nosed down toward the ground, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that since the airplane had been flying "well," he "suspected carburetor ice." The pilot reported that the day of the accident was "probably the first time the airplane's aging carburetor heat mechanism had been put to the test with low temperature and narrow temperature-dew point spread in over a decade." The pilot reported a temperature and dew point of 40 degrees fahrenheit and 37 degrees fahrenheit, respectively. The nearest weather reporting station (40 nautical miles northwest of the accident site) was mcalester, Oklahoma. At 1353, mcalester reported a temperature of 55 degrees fahrenheit and a dew point of 36 degrees fahrenheit. Both temperature and dew point reports were in the range of conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise or climb power.